Number Of Fatal Transport Truck Crashes Increases On Ontario Roads

Provincial police are pointing to dangerous driving habits as the leading cause of thousands of transport truck crashes on Ontario roads this year.

The Ontario Provincial Police said there have been 25 fatal collisions so far this year that involved a large transport truck, which is an increase of 25% from this time last year. The OPP has also responded to a total of 3,047 transport truck-related crashes so far this year.

Police said their investigations point to the driver of the transport truck being the at-fault driver in a lot of the collisions.

“Poor driving behaviours and moving violations alone account for a large number of transport truck-related crashes every year. When other dangerous habits are thrown into the mix such as failure to adhere to vehicle maintenance, inspection and hours of service regulations as well as unsecured loads, it then becomes a question of when, not if, more lives will be lost in serious transport truck collisions,” said OPP Deputy Commissioner Brad Blair.

The OPP will be conducting a commercial motor vehicle enforcement campaign on Wednesday and Thursday in an effort to reduce the number of transport truck-related deaths on Ontario roads.